Supporting device for bed

ABSTRACT

A supporting device for a bed, placed on a bed plate, on top of or below a mattress, comprises a head-end inflatable bag, shaped like a triangular prism and placed at a determined position close to a head end of the bed plate, a foot-end inflatable bag, shaped like a triangular prism and placed at a determined position close to a foot end of the bed plate, and a compressor for inflating the head-end and foot-end inflatable bags. A person lying on the bed plate is supported by the head-end and foot-end inflatable bags on the upper body and the legs, respectively, assuming a sitting position upon inflating thereof and returning to a lying position upon deflating thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a supporting device for a bed,particularly to a supporting device for a bed which is inflatable anddeflatable and provides support for sitting and lying positions in thebed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Humans spend one fourth to one third of there life in bed, in closecontact with mattresses.

Even healthy people sometimes read or work in bed. Sick or handicappedpeople spend even more time in bed. During times in bed, it is importantto change positions and to move. To do so, however, handicapped personsoften need assistance, which is not always immediately available.Therefore, supporting devices for head and foot ends of beds have beenbrought on the market.

The following conventional supporting devices for head and foot ends ofbeds are available:

-   -   1. devices with fixed support;    -   2. devices with manually driven support; and    -   3. devices with mechanically driven support, using oil pressure        or gears.

The first two types of supporting devices have simple structures, butcannot be operated by sick or handicapped persons lying in bed. Thethird type of supporting devices can be operated by sick or handicappedpersons lying in bed, but has a complex, heavy and costly structure.

A supporting device of the third type is usually fixed on a bed plate,which makes moving inconvenient, while a mattress is no more than anattachment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a supporting devicefor a bed which is simple, inexpensive and easy to move.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a supporting devicefor a bed which provides adjustable support for the upper body as wellas the legs in sitting and sleeping positions.

For achieving above objects, the present invention has triangular bodieswhich are placed on top of or below a mattress at determined positionsand are inflatable and deflatable.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example theprinciples of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the supporting device for a bed of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the supporting device for a bed of the presentinvention in another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, the supporting device for a bed of the presentinvention is used in conjunction with a bed plate 50 and placed on topof or below a mattress 10, comprising a head-end inflatable bag 20, afoot-end inflatable bag 30, and a compressor 40. By inflating anddeflating the head-end and foot-end inflatable bags 20, 30, support orsitting and lying positions of a person is provided, respectively. Inthe following, a detailed description is given.

The mattress 10 is of flat shape and made of soft material, having afirst, second, third and fourth pleat 11, 12, 13, 14 in a transversedirection, so that the mattress 10 is longitudinally divided into afirst zone 15, a second zone 16, a third zone 17, a fourth zone 18, anda fifth zone 19.

The head-end inflatable bag 20 is placed at a determined position on abed plate, above or below the mattress 10. If placed below the mattress10, the head-end inflatable bag 20, upon being inflated, rises, takingalong the first zone 15 of the mattress 10 up to a desired height forsupporting the upper body.

The foot-end inflatable bag 30 is placed at a determined position on thebed plate, above or below the mattress 10. If placed below the mattress10, the foot-end inflatable bag 20, upon being inflated, rises, takingalong the third and fourth zones 17, 18 between the second and fourthpleats 12, 14 of the mattress 10 up to a desired height for supportingthe legs.

The compressor 40 is mounted below the bed plate 50 and via conduits 41,42 connected with the head-end and foot-end inflatable bags 20, 30,respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2, the head-end and foot-end inflatable bags 20, 30are, in another embodiment of the present invention, connected with eachother. Furthermore, the head-end and foot-end inflatable bags 20, 30 arepreferably fastened to the bed plate or mattress 10 by gluing tape orother fixing elements to avoid shifting thereof.

Raising and lowering of supporting positions is achieved by inflatingand deflating the the head-end and foot-end inflatable bags 20, 30, sothat desired sitting or lying positions of a person are readily assumed.

Furthermore, a wired or wireless remote control device 60 allows easycontrol of desired sitting or lying positions by sick or handicappedpersons.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for thepurpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of theinvention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended tocover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. A supporting device for a bed, placed on a bed plate, on top of orbelow a mattress, comprising: a head-end inflatable bag, shaped like atriangular prism and placed at a determined position close to a head endof the bed plate; a foot-end inflatable bag, shaped like a triangularprism and placed at a determined position close to a foot end of the bedplate; and a compressor, connected to said head-end and foot-endinflatable bags via conduits, for inflating said head-end and foot-endinflatable bags; wherein a person lying on the bed plate is supported bysaid head-end and foot-end inflatable bags on the upper body and thelegs, respectively, assuming a sitting position upon inflating thereofand returning to a lying position upon deflating thereof.
 2. Thesupporting device for a bed of claim 1, wherein said head-end andfoot-end inflatable bags are placed below said mattress in fixedpositions.
 3. The supporting device for a bed of claim 1, wherein saidhead-end and foot-end inflatable bags are fixed on said bed plate. 4.The supporting device for a bed of claim 1, wherein said head-end andfoot-end inflatable bags are connected with each other.